WHAT DO FINNS DOIN THEIR SPARE TIME ?

WHAT DO FINNS LIKE DOING?

One of the most popular pastimes is LUKEMINEN (reading).

There are KIRJASTOT (libraries) in every city, and KIRJASTOAUTOT (mobile libraries) serve readers in the countryside.

Most Finns read at least one SANOMALEHTI (newspaper), usually a PAIKALLISLEHTI (local paper), like KARJALAINEN in eastern Finland, and thelargest national newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat

nowadays many read newspapers and e-books also via iPad or other portable devices.

Using the INTERNET or NETTI is also popular, especially hanging out on SOSIAALINEN MEDIA (social media) like Facebook; manywatch TELEVISIO or TELKKARI (TV) and listen to the radio, especially in the morning when driving to work.

MUSIIKKI (music) of all kinds is immensily popular, from HEVI (heavy rock) to METALLI (metal music), ISKELMÄ (hit music) and OOPPERA (opera).

People of all ages visit FESTARIT (rock-festivals) ,eg. in Joensuu, Turku, and Seinäjoki during the summer.

Also URHEILU and ULKOILU (sports and outdoor exercise) are popular pastimes, especially JÄÄKIEKKO (ice-hockey). Also Finnish PESÄPALLO (baseball) is well-liked, and HIIHTO (skiing) in the winter. We have VALAISTUT LADUT (illuminated skiing tracks) in winter. Many Finns alsolike to PYÖRÄILLÄ (cycle).

Having a SAUNA or SAUNOMINEN is among Finnish hobbies. SAUNAVASTA or –VIHTA is a kind of whisk used in the sauna to enhance the effect of heat by gently beating oneself with it.

In winter, some go swimming in AVANTO (a hole in the ice) in the frozen lake afterwards.

LAVATANSSIT OPEN-AIR DANCE

FINNISH CULTURE, ESPECIALLY IN THE EAST, IS FILLED WITH SADNESS.

LISTEN TO TANGO SINGERS -> MELANKOLIA (MELANCHOLY TONES).

SAME SADNESS IS ALSO HEARD IN THE LYRICS BY ONE OF OUR MOST FAMOUS POETS,

EINO LEINO: -> LAPIN KESÄ (BY VESA-MATTI LOIRI).

DARK UNDERTONES ARE PRESENT EVERYWHERE IN MUSIC, IN -> ISKELMÄ (POPULAR MUSIC AND HITS), -> ROKKI (ROCK), AND -> KANSANMUSIIKKI (FOLK MUSIC).

-> ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SONGS IN RECENT YEARS (BY JENNI VARTIAINEN)

NOT ALL MUSIC IS SUBMISSIVE TO FAITH -> LISTEN TO -> MAIJA VILKKUMAA

AN EXCEPTION OF THE MELANCHOLIC TRAIT IS THE SWEDISH-SPEAKING

CULTURE, WHICH IS MORE CHEERFUL AND OPTIMISTIC.

The sound of an accordion, guitar and violin echoes across the lake surface, the dark shadows of the whitebirch trunks are reflected in the blue water, and the invitation of a lighted open-air dance pavilion can beheard from far away.

A man and woman are holding each other closely. It is impossible for an outsider to know whether they havedanced together for five minutes or five decades, and whether they will part after the dance forever, or staytogether for the rest of their lives.

The open-air dance pavilion culture is rooted in Finnish history. Post-war Finland saw the construction ofthousands of open-air dance pavilions across the country. Amidst the struggle with war reparations, supplyshortages, and reconstruction, the dance pavilions provided a sensual dimension in otherwise weary life.

-> SEE TRANSLATION INTO FINNISH BELOW

Ari Ellert_flickr_CC_BY-NC2.0

THE SOUND OF THE ACCORDION, GUITAR AND VIOLIN ECHOES ACROSS THE LAKE SURFACE, THE DARK SHADOWS OF THE WHITE BIRCH TRUNKS ARE REFLECTED IN THE BLUE WATER, AND THE INVITATION OF A LIGHTED OPEN-AIR DANCE PAVILION CAN BE HEARD FROM FAR AWAY.

A MAN AND WOMAN ARE HOLDING EACH OTHER CLOSELY. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR AN OUTSIDER TO KNOW WHETHER THEY HAVE DANCED TOGETHER FOR FIVE MINUTES OR FIVE DECADES, AND WHETHER THEY WILL PART AFTER THE DANCE FOREVER OR STAY TOGETHER FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

HAITARIN ÄÄNI, KITARA JA VIULU KAIKUVAT JÄRVEN VEDENPINNAN HALKI,VALKOISTEN KOIVUNRUNKOJEN TUMMAT VARJOT HEIJASTUVAT SINISEEN VETEEN,JA VALAISTUN LAVATANSSILAVAN KUTSUN VOI KUULLA KAUKAA.

MIES JA NAINEN PITELEVÄT TOISIAAN TIUKASTI.ULKOPUOLISEN ON MAHDOTONTA TIETÄÄ, OVATKO HE TANSSINEET YHDESSÄ VIISI MINUUTTIA VAI VIISI VUOSIKYMMENTÄ,

JA AIKOVATKO HE EROTA TANSSIN JÄLKEEN IKUISIKSI AJOIKSIVAI PYSYÄ YHDESSÄ LOPPUELÄMÄNSÄ.

In the summer, -> LAVATANSSIT and -> FESTARIT both

gather people together for basically the same reasons:

for the music, for the magical white nights, and RAKKAUS(love).

HAITARI

KITARA

VIULU

JÄRVI

VESI

KOIVUT

VARJOT

LAVA

KUTSU

MIES

NAINEN

TANSSI

LOPPUELÄMÄ

Javi_CC_by-NC2.0

• Describe the MÖKKI (cottage) you see in the picture above.

• Join the Finns in the SAUNA. – Why do you think Finns love their sauna traditions?

• What can you tell about the LUONTO (nature)?

Which tree is this?

What is happening here?

REVIEW

What kind of music do Finns like?

What is meant by LAVATANSSIT?

Which different sporting activities do a lot of Finns enjoy in the winter?

Learn the verbs below, and the names of the seasons, and find the following words in Finnish:

VOCABULARY - verbs:

KERTOA to tell, describe

ULKOILLA to do outdoor exercise

HIIHTÄÄ to ski

VIETTÄÄ to spend

LUKEA to read

SOITTAA to play (an instrument)

PELATA to play

LENKKEILLÄ to run or walk for fitness

Months of the Year:

TAMMI-, HELMI-, MAALIS-, HUHTI-, TOUKO-, KESÄ-,

HEINÄ-, ELO-, SYYS-, LOKA-, MARRAS-, JOULUKUU

VUODENAJAT (seasons):

TALVI winter

KEVÄT spring

KESÄ summer

SYKSY autumn

-> Exercise

HARRASTUS

LUKEMINEN

JÄÄKIEKKO

URHEILU

SANOMALEHTI

KIRJASTO

KOIVU

KOKKO

RAKKAUS

Ritva Tammi 2014